RVIA Launches Top Tech Challenge Contest

The RV Industry Association is launching its first annual “Top-Tech Challenge,” set to take place at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY, Nov. 26 to 30.

RV Technicians are invited to compete live in a head-to-head competition in Louisville to earn the title of Top Tech and $10,000.

The challenge will pit eight finalists against each other at the show and the final round will take place over the four-day period in a single-elimination troubleshooting competition encompassing three different types of technical challenges.

To enter, applicants must be an RVDA/RVIA Certified Technician, have at least five years of working experience as an RV service technician and have a recommendation letter from a service manager or customer. Companies also will be limited to one applicant per company. Events will be timed within the specific task-at-hand and one final technician will emerge as the Top Tech. The winner and his or her owner company will receive $10,000 cash along with a trophy to bring back to their home town.

“We are looking forward to hosting the first competition that recognizes the talents and challenging work of RV technicians,” said Sharonne Lee, senior director, education at RVIA. “This competition will shine a light on the individuals that keep the RV industry running on a daily basis. We continue to see more people complete the extensive technical training that goes into the repair and maintenance of RVs and those individuals deserve to be recognized.”

Prospective technicians will have the ability to submit their applications over the summer to enter the live competition, hosted by Gary Bunzer, noted author and technical educator. He has been serving the RV Industry since the late 1960’s. RV owners know him as the RV Doctor for his Q&A column that has been published every month for over 41 consecutive years. He continues to develop innovative RV technical programs for both consumers and professional RV service technicians.

More details, including the scoring criteria and how to enter, will be available in upcoming weeks. Prequalifying rounds will take place throughout the next several months and the field will be narrowed in advance of the national show.